RAWALPINDI, Aug 23: President General Pervez Musharraf on Tuesday said that Pakistan was moving forward on the path of sustainable democracy, which has great significance for development of the country and the wellbeing of its people.

“I believe democracy is imperative for development and progress of the country and sustained socio-economic well-being of the people”, he said reiterating his commitment to the democratic process.

In a wide-ranging interaction with Asian parliamentarians, the president said the elected assemblies will complete their term and general elections in Paksitan would take place in the year 2007.

Speaker National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain and PML Secretary-General Mushahid Hussain Sayed were present on the occasion.

Referring to the local government system, he said it has empowered people politically, financially and administratively at the grassroots-level and now they can themselves sort out any difficulties in the way of progress and development. Reviewing the global scenario President Musharraf renewed his call for settlement of longstanding Palestinian and Kashmir disputes.

“Just and equitable resolution to these lingering disputes will help bring durable peace and harmony to our turbulent world as their settlement will help efforts to curb extremism and terrorism afflicting many parts of the world,” he underlined.

Entertaining questions from the Asian MPs, the President said that Asian nations should strive for integrating regional economies.

The Asian countries need to supplement each other’s economies to achieve the long-sought goal of across the board development and prosperity of our people, he said. The president particularly highlighted the need for bringing South and Central Asian countries into the mainstream of Asian development.

The parliamentarians appreciated Pakistan’s recent strides and reforms towards a vibrant democratic dispensation. Commenting on the local government elections, the AAPP members said wider and enthusiastic participation of the people in these elections is reflective of their trust in the democratic system.

PRIME MINISTER: Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also addressed the association and said that moderates are gaining the upper hand in Pakistan, as is evident from the first phase of local body elections.

Local bodies are the building blocks of a democratic system and the recent elections will strengthen democracy in Pakistan, Mr Aziz told members of the AAPP. He said democracy was flourishing in Pakistan with an active opposition and free press.

The prime minister criticized the Western media for its “negative portrayal” of Pakistan following the July 7 terrorist bombings in London. He said the bombers were referred to as Pakistanis, even they were born, Brought up and educated in the UK.—Agencies